ML20054H859
| ML20054H859 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Pilgrim |
| Issue date: | 05/03/1982 |
| From: | Studds G HOUSE OF REP., FOREIGN AFFAIRS |
| To: | Palladino N NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20054H856 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8206250089 | |
| Download: ML20054H859 (2) | |
Text
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Dear Mr. Palladino:
I am writing to express my concern over a number of issues relating to the operation of Boston Edison's Pilgrim I nuclear power station in Plymouth, Massachusetts.
As I am sure you are aware, the Pilgrim plant has been the I
center of a great deal of recent controversy.
On January 19, the Commission fined the utility $550,000 for violations of safety-related requirements at the plant and ordered Boston Edison to deve-lopa management plan that would improve the attention given to the safe operation of the plant.
Unfortunately, it is not the first time that man-agement deficiencies have been brought to Boston Edison's attention.
In a report issued last August, the NRC rated reactor licensees and construc-tion permit holders and found that the Pilgrim plant was below average in five functional areas including refueling, reporting, radiation protection, emergency preparedness, and management controls.
In the report the NRC staff. notes that Pilgrim implemented major organization and personnel changes in response to the NRC concerns.
Obviously, the changes were in-sufficient.
Given this background it is hardly surprising that public confidence in the ability of the NRC and Boston Edison to ensure the safe operation of the plant is minimal.
Of particular concern to a number of residents are two proposals that have been made to the NRC:
one that would permit the Attor-ney General of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to participate in the review of the Edison management plan and the other urging that the Commis-sion assign inspectors to the Pilgrim facility on a 24 hour2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br /> basis.
At a recent meeting held in Plymouth, a representative of the NRC expressed opposition to both these proposals, indicating that their implementation would be too costly.
I believe that this opposition is short-sighted and that the time and money spent on complying with the requests would be well spent.
The continued operation of the nuclear power industry in this country will depend to a large degree on public support.
To reassure an already skepti-cal public in the Plymouth area of the reliability of the Pilgrim facility will require a firm commitment from both the utility and the Commsssion to allocate sufficient resources of time, money, and personnel to the safe operation of the plant and to efforts to keep the public informed.
Due to the past problems at the Pilgrila facility this is even more important and I strongly urge that you reconsider the Commission's position with regard 8206253089 820602 PDR ADOCK 05000293 U
. to the petition from the Attorney General's office and the request to place inspectors at the facility on a 24 hour2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br /> basis.
I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.
With kind regards.
Sinc rely, f
.b Cs gyv Gerry i. Studds Mr. Nunzio Palladino f
Nuclear Regulatory Commission l
1717 11 Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C.
20505